The day was dragging on and Kyouko was starting to get a headache. Kuon wasn't on set and Yashiro-san had to keep leaving to make calls and check on him. That left her to be harassed by Shou and Murasame whenever Chiori-chan was filming.
"Tsuruga get Kana pregnant yet?" Shou asked entering her waiting room once again unannounced.
"Tsuruga-san and Kana-san at least act like you have manors." Kyouko said choosing to ignore his question.
"I envy him such a sexy woman." Shou continued not missing a beat. "I bet she's great in bed. I didn't think Mr. Perfect had it in him to publicly date an ex-AV star. Privately sure, what celebrity doesn't fuck porn stars? But to go public and risk jilting all the flat chested boring groupies, that takes some guts."
"If you came here just to spout vulgarities then please get out." She said rubbing her temples.
Shou smiled and plopped down on the couch. "I came to console you. Passed over again for an older more experienced woman with a voluptuous figure. That must be rough." He said opening his arms to her. "Come I'll hug it all better."
"The day I voluntarily touch you will be the day I strangle you to death." Kyouko sneered closing her bento box as she couldn't find her appetite.
"I mean we're about to shoot a kissing scene so that might set us back a bit." Shou said but his tone was more playful than mocking. "Come on Kyouko I'm only messing with you to rile you up. That's what we do." He motioned between them. She rolled her eyes but said nothing. He was irritating her, and she hoped that if she ignored him, he would get bored and find someone else to harass. "Don't tell me you're actually sad about Tsuruga and Kana-san. You said yourself that you were using him to get to the top, so use him then leave him to his porn star. You're too good for a guy who dates porn stars anyway. I thought you were saving yourself for a prince."
"Yeah, sure ok." She said not knowing how to react to him being semi-nice.
"You should eat your lunch." He said eyeing the full box she had just closed. "I've seen you scold Tsuruga for leaving less food than that untouched."
"Yes, well he is a large male, and I am a tiny flat as a board little girl. One of the perks of which is that I do not require the same amount of energy to run properly." She explained and he laughed at the slight dig at herself.
"Tch that way of speaking as though you were a machine is the real reason why you'll never get a man. Be a little more human during our make out scene it'll be hard enough for me to get into it with a face like yours." He said leaning across the table between them to invade her space.
"Sayuri-san gives Kenji a peck on the cheek Shoutaro. As long as you remember your lines, it'll be fine." She said dryly. "Let's get through this scene then we can call it a day."
Shou shrugged saying, "Ok, but I really do think you should eat something."
"I will later." She said standing up and shoving his face away. "If you've already eaten then we should both get back to set. Maybe they'll be ready for us early."
"Ok." Shou said standing up and following her back to set where Director Anna sat speaking with a producer.
"Oh, are you two ready to continue?" Anna asked checking his watch. "You still have ten minutes if you want it."
"That won't be necessary we've got this." Shou said casually placing his arm around Kyouko's shoulders.
She eyed him disdainfully before ducking down and slipping out of his grasp.
"I'm ready whenever everyone else is Anna-san." She said walking over to the stage which was set up for a party.
It was a simple enough scene. Short and sweet with few lines but then she would have to lean up and kiss his cheek. Sayuri was an affectionate person and in Kyouko's opinion she had boundary issues. When Kyouko had mentioned to Kuon that she thought Satoshi had some right to be angry with his wife for being a flirt, Kuon had scolded her about making excuses for abuse. Kanae had done the same but she added that it wouldn't matter even if Sayuri cheated because hitting people was wrong. It was even more horrendous when the person you hit was your significant other. Her best friend and her boyfriend were a unified front when it came to her wellbeing and even called each other out on their manipulative or mean or just plain bad habits.
"You're making a funny face." Shou pointed out poking her cheek. "Is the thought of kissing me that awful?"
There was a vulnerability to him when he asked the question that made her lie. "No."
She didn't notice the brown eyes at the back of the room watching them. Kuon had sneaked in and hidden his presence from everyone on set wanting to surprise her but he was the one to receive a shock. What did that one simple word mean? No? No, she didn't think he was awful. No, because it was just an act. No, because she wanted to kiss Fuwa. At the last thought Kuon shook his head. The idea of her wanting to be near Fuwa was ridiculous. There was no way. She would rather eat dirt than kiss Fuwa Shou. But his eyes took in the sight of her giggling demurely at something he said. Her hand was on his shoulder and Kuon had to close his eyes as she leaned in to kiss him.
"Cut!" Anna shouted startling Kyouko, so she quickly pulled away from Shou. "Fuwa control your face." Anna critiqued and Shou frowned in confusion. "Kenji has had a crush on Sayuri since he was ten, but he's also admired Satoshi for that long too. You have to express that conflict on your face. Let's go again."
Kyouko gave Shou a withering look as they took their places again. This short scene was going to take forever.
"Ready? Start!" Anna ordered and they went through the scene again only this time when she went to kiss him Shou turned his head the slightest bit and their lips touched. Instinctively she recoiled and director Anna once again called cut.
"I'm sorry that was an accident." Shou apologized too quickly for her to believe it was sincere. "Honest I thought I had to sneeze."
Kyouko rolled her eyes already going back to her starting position. Kuon smiled at her annoyed expression. He clung to the idea that she was disgusted but being professional.
"Cut." Anna growled twenty minutes later for the sixth time. "Fuwa did you read your lines?" The frustrated director asked.
"Yes, sir I did." Shou had the good sense to be polite in the moment. He was embarrassed for flubbing the line having honestly meant to do the scene correctly for that take. "I'm sorry, I'll get it right this time."
"Good." Anna said curtly before addressing Kyouko. "Sorry, will you be okay to go through it once more?"
"Yes." Kyouko enthused determined not to let Shou get to her.
Once more she returned to her starting point and approached him at the party. They shared pleasantries and she leaned in a little too close placing her hand on his right arm. He leaned into her the two continuing to talk then she spotted her sister-in-law Airi in the crowd and leaned up to place a kiss on his cheek. The hair rose on the back of her neck and her mini grudge spirits popped up reacting to a familiar negative energy. She shivered and jumped away from Shou.
"Cut! Kyouko-chan?" Anna sighed hanging his head. "You're meant to pull away then catch Airi's gaze and smile." He didn't understand how such a simple scene could be this difficult to get through. "You know what everyone take fifteen." He said standing up and stretching.
Kyouko bowed to him apologizing, then she turned to the stagehands who came to adjust the lights and the other actors who had to stand around in pretend conversations while Shou and her messed up seven times. Chiori-chan moved closer wanting to ask her what was wrong but Kyouko gave her a quick bow before rushing off to her waiting room.
A hand gripped her wrist and pulled her into the room. She gasped his name as he shoved her against the wall and greeted her with a passionate kiss. Their lips merged in a heated exchange as he let his jealousy guide his actions. He was a little rougher than normal nipping at her lips and pulling before sucking her tongue into his mouth. She sunk her hands into his hair a thrill running up her spine at the sound of his guttural groan when she scratched his scalp. Her grudges swarmed around him loving the dark aura he was exuding but she wanted to help ease his frustrations not revel in them.
"Kuon what's wrong?" she asked breaking the kiss.
Instead of answering he trailed kisses down her jaw to her neck. "Can I mark you?" he asked once he reached her ear.
"Mm mm." She moaned eyes rolling back when he took her earlobe in his mouth making her forget her concern. "Yes." She answered his question too lost in lust to think clearly.
He nipped at her skin down the column of her throat to the swell of her breasts. "Here?" He asked unbuttoning her blouse enough to push it open and gain access to her lacy blue bra. "No one will see it, but we'll know it's there." He said kissing her harder as he drew nearer to the top lace of her bra.
"Ok." Kyouko answered breathlessly then let out a pleased moan as he sucked her flesh into his mouth.
Frustration coupled with his delight as the taste of her skin drove him wild. He formed one hickey then nipped at her skin along the edge of her bra leaving marks in his wake. She groaned his name not objecting as he dared to push the lace down and continued to lick her skin. She trembled in his arms but held his head close enjoying the sensations he was stirring inside of her.
"Ah!" she cried too loudly before clapping a hand over her mouth.
The emperor smiled up at her through his lashes and watched her face intently as he pulled her bra down further revealing a dusky pink nipple. She opened her eyes shivering at the cold air hitting her skin. Gritting his teeth, he dropped his hands from her body and stood up straight.
"Why'd you stop?" she asked squirming a little under his gaze. Had she done something wrong? Was there something not right about her nipples that caused him to stop?
Guessing her thoughts, he smirked while adjust her bra to cover her again. "I wasn't sure if I had permission to continue."
"Oh." Kyouko said blushing. "You can keep going if you want."
The emperor looked at her and in a serious tone asked. "And what if I can't stop myself?"
Biting her lip, she tugged his face to hers. "I trust you." she said before pressing a bruising kiss to his lips.
He kissed her back for a moment, contemplating pushing her boundaries. Her gentle sighs made it difficult for him not to allow his hands to unhook the front closure of her bra and push it aside so he could cup her breasts. She whimpered and arched her back pressing her chest against his and causing his imagination to go wild.
"This is dangerous love." He said pulling away slightly but still giving her gentle sweet kisses. "We're at work. I'm sorry I got jealous and let myself get carried away."
"I didn't mind." Kyouko said with a pout. He was normally so careful with her that his sudden need to mark her had excited her. It made her feel wanted.
"You are too good to me." Kuon said hugging her. The raging jealousy over seeing her flirt with Fuwa had melted into shame. This was something Satoshi would do. His thoughts berated him as he tipped her chin up and examined her neck. "We'll have to put makeup on your neck."
Kuon lead her over to the couch and took her purse from the table. Kyouko watched him falling into self-loathing at a loss for how to help. Taking some makeup from her purse he instructed her to hold her head up exposing her neck to him. Gentle hands applied the make up to her throat and further down making sure to cover the bruises forming on her creamy skin. He couldn't believe that he had done that to her.
"Kuon, they're love marks, they're hickeys. So, stop thinking whatever negative awful thing you're thinking about yourself because you are not Satoshi." She said as he buttoned her blouse for her. "Kuon?"
Closing his eyes, he mentally shoved his self-hatred aside to reassure her. "I know princess. I'm just disappointed in myself for getting so worked up over a kiss on the cheek. I better get my act together."
She tried to bring his face down to hers for another kiss, but he resisted. Not wanting to cause him more stress she let her hands drop and looked down. Maybe she should have said no to the hickey. Then he wouldn't have a reason to beat himself up, but then his jealousy would have boiled into rage and he probably would have smashed Shou's face into the floor. Not that she wouldn't enjoy watching Fuwa get pummeled but Kuon would have felt worse if he did that. It would slow filming and damage his reputation.
"Where are you going?" She asked feeling him pull away from her.
"I only stopped by on my way to my next job. I shouldn't have." He replied with a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm sorry."
"Corn." She called to him catching his hand and holding it firmly in both of hers.
Smiling down at her he allowed her to bring his hand to her face. His fingers caressed her as she nuzzled against his palm.
"I know that they are love marks and that you like them, but they were done with the intent to possess you and I cannot forgive myself for that. I should only touch you with love." He explained kneeling down in from of her. "I shouldn't do this with anger in my heart." He said lightly touching her neck.
He leaned in to kiss her but a knock at the door interrupted them just as their noses touched. "Kyouko." Shou called banging on the door. "Kyoko get your flat ass out here so we can get this over with. I've got a date with a sexy model tonight."
On the other side of the door Shou was ready to kick the door in. He could have sworn he'd seen Tsuruga hanging around on set, but the older man was nowhere to be seen. The two were constantly disappearing together and Shou was sick of it. What gave Tsuruga the right to be alone in a locked room with what was rightfully Shou's? He had Kana what did he need Kyouko for?
Thoughts of what a guy like Tsuruga Ren would do with a naïve girl like Kyouko flooded Shou's mind and he kicked the door again demanding Kyouko unlock it. She couldn't be that dumb to think Tsuruga wanted her as anything other than a plaything.
Both Kyouko and Kuon became tense and Kyouko felt her headache resurface ten times worse than before. Shou kicked the door impatiently.
"Can I just kill him?" Kuon asked in a low growl.
"No, go hide in the bathroom." Kyouko replied grateful that sharing a manager with Tsuruga Ren had its perks. Yashiro-san had gotten them the biggest waiting room with a bathroom and a mini fridge.
Taking in a deep calming breath Kuon nodded. He kissed her then stood up and took himself over to the bathroom.
Kyouko shouted to Shou in an irritated voice. "I'm coming. Stop kicking my door or I'll call Yayoi-san."
Behind the bathroom door Kuon could barely make out what was being said between the two but Shou did say something in response to her threat to call his mother. They exchanged more irritable comments then Kyouko giggled and Shou let out a childish chuckle. Kuon felt his stomach curdle as their voices faded down the hall.
Two hours later saw an exhausted Anna calling cut. "Let's call it a day for Kenji and Sayuri. Haruki-san and Airi-san get ready." He called to Chiori-chan and Murasame-san. "Kyouko-chan can I speak to you for a moment?"
Kyouko nodded wondering what she had done wrong. Anna gave her a stern look as she approached, and she bowed her head.
"I hear you're throwing a Christmas party." He started and she jumped back to look at him uncomprehendingly. "My invitation must have been lost in the mail."
"No, that isn't, I mean of course you're invited." She stammered. "It isn't a Christmas party though. It's a joint birthday party and I haven't finished making the invitations yet."
Anna perked up pleased that he wasn't being excluded. "Oh, good. Can I bring my wife along?" he asked but frowned for a moment then corrected himself. "No, my first question should be what would you like for your birthday?"
"Oh uh, nothing. You don't have to get me anything. Your wife is welcome but presents are not required." Kyouko said and watched his happy face crumble.
"Not for the first time I find myself wondering about your childhood. To not expect presents on your birthday and it's on Christmas no less." He tsked shaking his head.
Relenting Kyouko quickly thought of something she needed. "I recently moved into my own apartment and I don't have a wok of my own." Kuon had offered to buy one but she wouldn't let him. "A new one would be nice, I guess."
"A wok?" Anna asked surprised. "You cook Kyouko-chan?"
"Yes, I like to cook."
"Right!" he said as though connecting dots in his head. "Tsuruga-san always eats from the same type of bento box as you." He eyed her knowingly. "My wife makes me bento too and I try to make her one. She does the cooking and I attempt to put it together but I'm pretty bad at making cute shapes and stuff."
Kyouko smiled imagining director Anna trying to cut out flowers from slices of fruit.
"Kyouko-chan." Yashiro-san said walking over to them. "I'm sorry for interrupting but we need to leave now if we're going to make it on time to your photoshoot."
"It's no problem. See you and Tsuruga-san tomorrow." Anna said with an apologetic expression. "It'll be intense."
Kyouko nodded and they left to her next job. They would be shooting what Kyouko thought of as one of their hardest scenes. There wasn't much in the script to go off of and it needed to be intense and scary.
Later that night Kuon did his best to maintain his gentlemanly aura as he rode the elevator to his apartment. Not that any of his neighbors were on the elevator with him but he never felt right being himself unless he was alone or with Kyouko.
Finally reaching his floor he exited the elevator and stepped out to walk down the long hallway to the lone door and he let out a long sigh. Kuon was afraid to film the next day. His jealous heart was already pumping ideas into his brain and tomorrow he would have to act on those feelings. Not to mention the script called for a simulation of oral sex which he was not looking forward to. He already had a tough time keeping the thought of Kyouko on her knees in front of him out of his dreams. The producers were asking them to act out something so intimate in a violent way. It made him physically sick to think that her first experience of oral with be like that. This drama was going to be the death of him.
It wouldn't be so hard if you would just seduce the girl. His inner voice said as he unlocked his front door. You saw the way she looked at you when you stopped earlier. She clearly wanted more.
"I'm home." He called out entering the apartment and removing his shoes.
I'll bet we could have her on her knees begging to please us.
Shut up Satoshi! Kuon barked back in his mind refusing to accept that the twisted thought was his own.
"Welcome home." Kyouko said coming out of the kitchen to greet him. She cocked her head feeling his unhappy aura. He wasn't angry but he was off somehow. "Hi." She said walking over to him and standing on her tippy toes to kiss the corner of his mouth.
"Hi princess." He replied taking her lips chastely in his and willing his frustrations to go away.
A hand came up to caress her cheek and he stroked down to her collar bone and further to the swell of her breast which she had on full display for once. She wasn't wearing one of his shirts tonight, but a pastel pink camisole and shorts set. He eyed it appreciatively with his fingers lingering on the revealed skin that bore his marks.
"Do you like it?" she asked looking down and doing a nervous spin for him to see the entire outfit. There was a red heart applique on her back-left butt cheek.
"It's cute." He said placing a hand on her waist when she was facing him again. "As long as you're comfortable though, that's all that matters." His words were only slightly contradicted by the deep appreciative kiss he followed them with.
"I'll go shower. Then I'm sure you have a delicious meal ready to make me eat." He said poking her forehead. "You should start without me. Yukihito said you didn't eat your lunch. Don't pick up my bad habits."
"Right sorry." She said sheepishly. He kissed her head before heading off to the bathroom.
Kyouko returned to the kitchen. She was ravenous her headache having dissipated once she got home. Kuon's familiar scent had that effect on her. She dished up their plates and took them to the table turning the tv on for the noise. Her food was already half gone by the time Kuon had joined her tugging her over to sit in his lap as was normal when they had dinner.
"Mm, my princess is such a good cook." Kuon praised eating his dinner. He took the remote and put on a recorded interview. "Can you teach me how to make what you made in this one?" he asked as he watched Kyouko talking to the host who was a famous chef on the talk show. She was showing the chef how she made chicken katsu and the chef seemed genuinely impressed. She even had side dishes and garnished the plate.
"Chicken Katsu is pretty easy, but you haven't even mastered eggs yet. I think we'll stick to you preparing the rice and cutting the vegetables for now." She said teasingly earning annoyed silence from Kuon. "Hey, I'm kidding." She said leaning back to kiss his chin.
"Mmh." He nodded then asked. "Can Fuwa cook?" He didn't know why he had asked but he supposed he wanted to know that Fuwa wasn't better than him at something. The kid could stay mediocre and beneath him. Kuon was perfectly content to be better than him in every way.
For her part Kyouko stiffened not wanting to talk about Shoutaro. After several moments however she figured she needed to respond. "Yes." She finally said. "Yes, he is actually a very good cook. Though he rarely bothered to and when he did, he always left his mess for me to clean up."
She felt her headache threatening to come back, so she turned her body to bury her head in the crook of Kuon's neck and breathed in deeply. Wrapping her arms around his neck she hummed in contentment as his scent permeated her senses. All thoughts of Fuwa Shou and his jealousy melted away when he felt the touch of her lips as they made a slow ascent up his neck to his earlobe where she tentatively stuck her tongue out to lick him.
Swallowing a bit of food, he asked with a flirtatious lilt. "What are you doing?"
She shrugged with a sly smile on her face. "What you do when you're trying to distract me." She answered walking her fingers over his shoulder and down his chest.
"Darling I'm distracted by your mere existence. If you start doing things to purposely distract me, I'll never finish eating." He said taking another bite of food to punctuate his words.
After watching him take a couple more bites effectively eating more than half his plate Kyouko gave the side of his neck a long slow lick. He reacted with a smile but kept his eyes trained on the Kyouko on tv being professional and charming. Real life Kyouko sunk her fingers into his hair and lightly ran her nails over his scalp. Her lips and tongue travelled over his neck to find his pulse where she stopped for a moment to suck.
"You have to suck harder if you want to leave a mark." Kuon said struggling to keep his composure.
He lost it and let out a long moan when Kyouko took his instruction to heart. His hands twisted into her soft hair holding her gently to him as she sucked and lightly bit the same spot until a bruise formed. When she was satisfied with the size of her mark, she pulled back to examine her work. He would have to cover it with makeup in the morning, but they would both know it was there. She kissed the spot lovingly then let out a delighted squeal as her world shifted and she suddenly found herself on the floor beneath Kuon. She giggled at the feel of his lips sprinkling kisses all over her neck.
